Jameis Winston in the first Heisman winner to play college baseball after winning the award since Bo Jackson in 1986. / Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

TAMPA -- The crowd screamed at the mere sight of him Tuesday, cheered even when he failed and mobbed him for autographs so that three security guards at George M. Steinbrenner Field had to stay close.

The New York Yankee players even stood on the top step of the dugout during their spring-training exhibition, gawking at him when he entered the game.

This wasn't Derek Jeter making his season debut.

This was Jameis Winston, the Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback of Florida State University's national championship football team, who is also a pitcher and outfielder for the Seminoles.

For all of the tens of millions of dollars Major League Baseball spends on its RBI programs and urban academies to lure inner-city kids to play baseball, the greatest advertisement for their sport was free of charge Tuesday.

Winston might be the nation's best college football player, but he's showing that it's cool to play baseball.

"I have more success in football," Winston said, "but baseball is a passion of mine. I love playing both sports. And I want to do both as long as I can."

Winston, who wears No. 44 in honor of Hank Aaron, also an Alabama native, met Jeter and former Yankees great Jorge Posada before the game, and Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira during it. The Yankees have always been his favorite team, and Jeter and Ken Griffey Jr. were his baseball heroes.

"It was an honor, surreal," he said. "Probably better than winning the national championship.

"Getting this opportunity to meet both of those guys now, I feel like my life is complete."

Winston is 20 years old.

"It's super cool to see what he's doing," New York Yankees ace CC Sabathia told USA TODAY Sports. "I'd love to get an autograph from him some day, maybe a football too."

Join the club. You think the 7,708 fans showed up Tuesday to watch Vidal Nuno start for the Yankees?

Winston, a 15th-round draft pick by the Texas Rangers in 2012, grounded out to second base and struck out in his two at-bats. The fans didn't care. Winston, after all, is considered more of a pitching prospect.

And a good one according to an American League scout, who shared with USA TODAY Sports a report he wrote on Winston last week. The scout requested anonymity because of competitive reasons:

"Mountain of a man on the diamond. Good delivery and captivating mound presence. Heater sat at 93 with potential real command. Good extension at release. Chance to increase velocity as he gets more comfortable on the diamond. Slider is a potential plus pitch with wipeout possibilities. He's more than a novelty, and definitely a solid prospect on the mound."

Winston, one of five Heisman Trophy winners to also play collegiate baseball, hears the comparisons to Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders. Jackson is the only man to be selected to the All-Pro team in the NFL and All-Star team in baseball. Sanders, who also played football and baseball at FSU, was an Hall of Fame cornerback and solid major-league outfielder for parts of nine seasons.

"Deion was one of a kind," said Mike Martin, who also was Sanders' baseball coach. "Jay-boo is one of a kind.

"There are certainly similarities. But I have to say Jay-boo contributes more to his baseball team than Deion did at Florida State."

There also is a pretty clear difference in personalities. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman recalled the first time he saw Sanders' signature on a Yankees' minor-league contract.

"I remember Deion signing Sanders with a dollar sign. The S was a dollar sign," Cashman said. "Confidence was not a problem."

Winston may have the same confidence but doesn't show it. DJ Stewart, who played with Winston last year before being drafted by the Yankees, says players admire Winston's attitude.

"He doesn't consider himself a football player or a baseball player," Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher said. "He considers himself a competitor and an athlete."

It remains to be seen whether Winston will have to choose a sport, but for now he's enjoying himself. "When I was younger they tried to get me to play just baseball. But since this year, things have changed," Winston said with a laugh. "I'm just 20 years old. I'm living my life."